God is not a harsh dictator. God’s commandments are not burdensome. They aren’t created to punish us. Deuteronomy 6 tells us of their purpose. And it’s “for our good always.”

God is on our side. We are His children. He is for us, not against us. His intentions are for our good, always.

Why do we love Him with our whole being? For our good.

Why do we teach our children diligently to follow His laws? For our good.

Why do we fear Him and remember what He’s done for us? For our good.

God is love. What does that teach us about God? (1 Corinthians 13)

He is patient. He is kind. He does not envy. He does not boast. He is not arrogant. He is not rude. He does not insist on His own way. He is not irritable. He is not resentful. He does not rejoice at wrongdoing. He rejoices with the truth. He never fails.

If a perfect person loved you with a perfect love, how would you respond?

We love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength because we love Him so fully. It’s not a command or a duty.

Love does not insist on its own way. God will not force you to love Him. The world is a messed-up place because God does not insist on His own way.

We love Him with our whole selves because we love Him! Because He is the only One in the universe worthy of it. We love Him because we receive His love by the infilling of the Holy Spirit and it overflows in love back to Him and to others.

We love Him because we want to be with Him. There’s nothing we want more than to be with Him. And if your desire is for Him and your affections aren’t split, then you will love Him with ALL you heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength.